Lachen Road Reopens: North Sikkim and Gurudongmar Lake Are Back on the Map

The road to Lachen in North Sikkim is open again. The rebuilt stretch near Taramchu Bridge was reopened on 29 August 2026 after four months of closure, ETV Bharat reports. That brings Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake back within reach for the autumn and winter season.

Why it was closed

The road was badly damaged by the glacial lake outburst flood of October 2023. It was restored on 26 February 2026, then cut again by landslides on 5 April. Local MLA and minister Samdup Lepcha reopened the reconstructed stretch on 29 August, and Project Swastik of the Border Roads Organisation said further strengthening work, including rock bolting and retaining walls, would begin in October.

What it means for travellers

• Tour operators report that Gurudongmar permits now need two nights in Lachen, so plan at least three days from Gangtok for Lachen and Gurudongmar alone.
• Gurudongmar Lake (about 5,430 m) and the North Sikkim protected areas need permits arranged through a registered operator. Gurudongmar is open to Indian nationals only.
• Repair work can bring short closures, and this road has a history of sudden cuts. Keep a buffer day and check the status before you set off.
• Lachung and Yumthang, on the other valley, are reached via Chungthang as usual.

Plan the trip with Breeziah's guides to Lachen and Lachung, or Is Sikkim safe for tourists? on altitude and roads.